Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "ある" vs "生きる"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
ある
ある (aru)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
生きる
いきる (ikiru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both ある and 生きる are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
ある (ある (aru)) represents "to exist (inanimate), to be (for things), to have" (Level: N5) and typically represents Used for non-living things.
On the other hand, 生きる (いきる (ikiru)) translates to "to live, to exist" (Level: N4) and is used for An intransitive verb meaning 'to live' or 'to exist'. It is used to describe the state of being alive for living beings. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "ある"
机の上に本があります。
There is a book on the desk.
Bilingual Sentence for "生きる"
人間は水がなければ生きられません。
Humans cannot live without water.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "机の上に本があります。" (Meaning: "There is a book on the desk.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "ある" fits here because it represents "to exist (inanimate), to be (for things), to have" in the context: "There is a book on the desk.".